Care home marked for closure

wet Gerald Wilkinson outside Primrose Hill care home. (130213M1b)

Residents and councillors have hit out over proposals to shut down a council-owned care home in Boston Spa this week.

Primrose Hill on Westwood Way is one of six care homes across the authority which is under threat from closure by Leeds City Council in a bid to save £59.4million due to government cuts.

Wetherby resident Jon Kinroy, a former kitchen assistant at the care home, told the News he believes the proposals are “grossly unfair”.

“The disruptive nature of all this will be immense,” he said.

“It is the only care home this side of Leeds.

“It is a completely different ball game to one being closed in Leeds.

“Residents in their 80s, 90s, and even a 100 years of age are being asked to move and may not even survive a move.”

Mr Kinroy, who has a number of friends at the care home, added that bus routes across the area, which he says are not consistent enough, will also make it difficult for relatives travelling further to see them.

The residential care home, which currently provides houses 33 residents in single rooms, is run and maintained by Leeds City Council.

Tomorrow a report will be handed to the council’s executive board asking councillors to give the go-ahead for a 12-week consultation to consider the future of residential care and day centres in the city, which include Boston Spa’s Primrose Hill.

Leeds City Councillor Gerald Wilkinson, (Cons, Wetherby) said he would be opposing any proposals to close the care home because of the “devastating” affect on people’s lives.

“It is the only care home in the immediate vicinity,” he said.

“The next one is many many miles away to this one.

“Relatives will have to travel a long way to visit them if it is closed.”

Coun Lucinda Yeadon, executive board member responsible for adult social care, said the proposals were being put forward because of “reducing resources” at a time when the city had “more older people to take care of.”

She said: “We realise older people and their families will feel anxious about the future of their care homes, and I would like to assure them that we are very sympathetic to their feelings and that everyone’s views will be listened to – and heard.”

As part of the proposed consultation, residents, their families and/or carers will get the chance to meet with senior care staff and give their feedback.

When contacted by the News, a spokesman for Leeds City Council said it was too early at this stage to say where alternative accommodation for Primrose Hill residents would be provided in the city, if the proposals get the go-ahead.

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